Cherry tree feeding in autumn: pruning, care, replanting, winter shelter

Cherry trees are among the fruit trees that tolerate subzero temperatures well. They can survive even the harshest winters without significant losses.

But to ensure a large crop of berries next year, it's essential to follow all cherry tree care procedures from the fall. It's important to fertilize, prune, and water the tree promptly, spray for pests, and protect against diseases.

The Importance of Autumn Care

Toward the end of the growing season, cherry tree growth ceases. The tree enters a dormant stage and prepares for the coming spring. At this point, flower buds are formed and the branches and trunk become woody. In the fall, cherry trees require minerals and moisture-replenishing irrigation. This allows them to stock up on nutrients so they can emerge from dormancy safely in the spring.

Cherry trees are at high risk of fungal diseases in winter. Their spores begin to attack the plant in the fall and begin to multiply rapidly with the onset of warm weather. Therefore, it is important to promptly treat the area around the trunk and the plant itself with fungicides to prevent diseases.

The risk of pest infestation, which becomes especially numerous in autumn, cannot be ignored. Insects can migrate from neighboring orchards and lay eggs for reproduction. Therefore, preparing cherry trees for winter includes tree inspection and insecticide spraying.

In winter, cherry trees are threatened by rodents, gusty winds, frost, and precipitation, which can damage the crown. This hinders shoot growth and inhibits active sap flow. Therefore, the yield of damaged cherry trees is significantly reduced. To prevent branch breakage, the tree is covered before winter.

Autumn pruning

Many gardeners believe that stone fruit trees don't require pruning, but this is a misconception. Pruning in the fall significantly increases the number of berries and improves their flavor. Skipping this practice results in denser canopies, but the yield declines.

Time and timing of pruning

Cherry tree pruning is permitted in spring or fall. The purpose of the pruning largely determines this:

• so that the garden has a well-groomed appearance and the crowns of fruit crops are formed correctly, pruning is done in autumn;
• In the spring, the procedure is repeated, but only those branches that were damaged by frost are cut off.

There are no exact dates when Cherry trees should be pruned in the fall, doesn't exist. Experienced gardeners recommend performing this procedure starting in mid-September. The deadline for the procedure is mid-December.

Correct execution of the procedure

Pruning a tree is like performing a surgical operation. Therefore, it's important to follow all the rules to properly prepare your cherry tree for winter:

1. This procedure can be performed when the plant is dormant. Therefore, pruning is performed after the cherry tree has shed all its leaves.
2. Remove diseased and dead branches. To prevent the disease from spreading again, destroy all fallen leaves and cut shoots.
3. If the crown is too dense, pruning should be done in stages over several years. Removing excess shoots all at once will result in the death of the plant.

Features of the procedure depending on the age of the tree

The choice of pruning tool depends on the age of the cherry tree. Branches on young trees are easily cut with a sharp knife. If the cherry tree is older, it's easier to use pruning shears or a handsaw to cut off the branches.

Young plants aren't pruned every year in the fall. To do this, the main branches are left on the trunk, and all excess shoots are cut off. Saplings over two years old are pruned using the shortening method. To do this, the central branch is cut back by 25 cm, and the side branches are shortened by 35 cm.

Pruning features depending on the species

When pruning a cherry tree, take into account not only the age of the plant, but also the species characteristics:

• The standard method is used to prune tree cherry trees;
• It is easier to prune felt cherry in autumn using the shortening method;
• For the bush variety, pruning is used to thin out the crown.

To prevent possible overcrowding, pruning removes branches growing inward. Broken and diseased shoots are also removed. It is recommended to complete this procedure before severe frost sets in. Otherwise, the plant's survival rate over the winter will be significantly reduced.

Autumn care for a good harvest

Although cherries tolerate drought and low temperatures well, they still require care and proper winter preparation. In summer, the plant requires protection from diseases and pests. During drought, the tree needs watering and fertilization. With proper care, the cherry tree will delight you with abundant blooms and a bountiful harvest in the fall.

Digging the soil

In the fall, the soil around the tree trunk is dug to a depth of 15 cm. Digging deeper is not recommended to avoid damaging the plant's roots. Finish cultivating the tree trunk by loosening the soil with a rake. Any weed roots discovered during digging are removed.

Watering

Immediately after digging and loosening the soil, the cherry tree is watered generously. Thanks to the special preparation before watering, the water penetrates deep into the soil and stays frozen for longer. To ensure effective watering and deep penetration, at least two buckets of water are poured under each tree. The water should be slightly warmer than the ambient air on the day of watering. To reduce water consumption and prevent water from spreading, a trench 10 cm deep is dug around the tree trunk.

Top dressing

It's advisable to water and fertilize at the same time. This will help nutrients quickly reach the tree's roots. It's recommended to fertilize cherry trees in the fall, in the first days of September, before the plant has entered dormancy. This will allow the fertilizer to be absorbed immediately, rather than waiting until the tree begins to dormant. spring.

Cherry trees can be fertilized with compost. Apply the following amounts:

• if the tree is less than 7 years old, apply 2 kg per square meter of soil around the tree trunk;
• for older trees, the amount of compost is increased to 3 kg.

You can use mineral complexes with a predominance of potassium and phosphorus as fertilizer:

• For young trees, it is enough to add 1 tablespoon of potassium chloride and 2 tablespoons of superphosphate per square meter of soil;
• For fruit-bearing plants, this rate is increased by 1.5 times.

Disease prevention

Preventative treatment of cherry trees against diseases and pests in the fall begins with removing lichen, moss, and loose bark from the trunk. A wire-bristled brush is a good choice for this task. Plant debris around the trunk is then collected and burned. Pest egg clutches are often discovered during this process. These are also destroyed manually.

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In case of moderate pest infestation, cherry trees are treated with folk remedies:

• ash-soap solution prepared from 10 liters of water, 400 g of ash and 50 g of liquid soap;
• a solution of 50 g of birch tar and 10 liters of water;
• infusion of 1 kg of chamomile and 10 liters of water.

If pest infestations are severe, treat the cherry tree with chemical insecticides such as Karbofos, Actellic, or Bankol. As a preventative measure, spray the plant with Bordeaux mixture at a 1% concentration. For young trees, 2 liters of solution is sufficient, while for fruiting trees, increase the amount to 10 liters. The area around the trunk is also sprayed at the same time.

Insulation and whitewashing of tree trunks

Since Russia's climate is variable, it's important to protect fruit trees from the vagaries of the weather in advance. Frosts that strike before snow cover has set in can destroy young plants. Therefore, the trunks of young cherry trees up to four years old are wrapped in burlap and old newspapers, and secured with spruce branches. Beforehand, it's recommended to wrap the base of the trunk with plastic mesh to prevent damage by rodents.

For additional protection, mature trees' trunks are whitewashed. A layer of whitewash will help protect the tree from excessive winter sun. Adding a little ferrous sulfate to the lime will repel rodents. Trunks are treated with lime after the rainy season ends to ensure the paint stays on the tree longer.

In the spring, during the cherry blossom season, cherry trees sometimes lose their blossoms and fruit. This occurs due to high soil acidity. Therefore, it is recommended to apply lime fertilizer to the soil every five years. This will help preserve the green part of the plant.

Shelter for the winter

Experienced gardeners advise against relying on this crop's winter hardiness and to cover the fruit tree for the winter in late autumn. This is especially recommended for young cherry trees. Trees are typically covered with mulch. Young plants are also tied with spruce branches. The mulch should be positioned so that it doesn't touch the tree trunk. Otherwise, the bark will rot during thaws, leading to rot.

This method is used to cover bush and felt cherry trees before frost sets in. Tree-like trees are additionally wrapped in light-colored burlap, white paper, or non-woven covering material. This precaution will protect the tree from mice and other rodents.

Regional aspects of cold weather preparation

When preparing for the cherry tree, it's important to take into account the region's climate. If the tree grows in the Moscow region or central Russia, preparation follows the standard procedure.

For fruit trees growing in Siberia or the Urals, more serious measures are necessary:

1. Cherry trees must be insulated. Young seedlings are especially carefully covered, as they are less tolerant of low temperatures.
2. Pruning is done immediately after the leaves fall and is completed by mid-September to allow the wounds to heal. Severe frosts often occur later, which can cause significant damage to the plant.

Autumn transplant

If the cherry tree needs to be replanted, This is done in the fall, since the plant begins to grow early in the spring.

Step-by-step execution of the work:

1. The tree trunk is dug around in a circle, 35 cm away from the trunk.
2. The soil in the resulting circle is watered generously.
3. The main roots that support the plant are identified and trimmed.
4. The cuts are cleaned with a knife.

Then, sturdy poles are inserted under the exposed root system and the plant is pulled out with them. It is recommended to immediately replant it into a pre-dug hole larger than the diameter of the root ball. Carefully straighten the roots to prevent them from bending upward. Fill the hole, occasionally shaking the tree by the trunk to fill any air pockets.

The nearly full planting hole is compacted thoroughly, working from the edges to the center. Then, add the remaining soil and water the transplanted plant thoroughly.

Removing undergrowth

When care is neglected or performed irregularly, numerous small cherry tree shoots form near the mother plant. These shoots draw nutrients from the soil and the plant's root system. This leads to reduced yields and deteriorates the quality of the berries. Therefore, the young shoots are uprooted.

The only effective method to get rid of the growth is to remove it manually:

1. The shoots are uprooted as soon as they appear on the surface.
2. Shallow holes are made around the roots of the mother plant and the shoots coming from them are cut off.
3. The resulting wounds are filled with garden pitch.

Use a sharp knife to cut off the shoots. After removing the shoots, make sure there are no stumps left, as new branches grow from them very quickly.

Prevention

To prevent excessive suckers, constantly monitor the area around the tree. Collect all fallen berries and pits. Otherwise, after overwintering, they will sprout in spring. A spreading tree growing next to the cherry tree is a good way to remove young shoots. However, in this case, the mother plant will also be deprived of light.

The choice of cherry variety also influences the formation of suckers. This usually occurs with own-rooted seedlings. If the cherry is grown in a seed yard, it will not form suckers.

Typical mistakes

Many gardeners don't water their cherry trees in the fall, believing it's unnecessary. In fact, the plant requires frequent watering at this time, especially young seedlings. Mature fruit-bearing trees can be watered less frequently, but more thoroughly. After fertilizing and digging around the trunk, the tree is watered for the last time. Then, sap flow slows, and the tree enters a dormant state.

Pruning by simply shortening branches is not recommended. It is recommended to make cuts at a 40-degree angle. For young seedlings, the tops must be trimmed.

As autumn approaches, don't forget to weed the area around the trunk. Digging is also essential to ensure the quality of next year's harvest is not compromised.

In conclusion

Cherry trees require care throughout the growing season. However, care should not be stopped with the onset of autumn. If all procedures are performed correctly, the tree will be well prepared for winter and will yield a bountiful harvest next year.